In a world where artificial intelligence continues to fool people, you’d think one of the most powerful government agencies could spot the difference between an edited video and the real thing. That’s exactly why the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is being dragged after a viral post on their official account has Black folks giving side eyes.
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The backlash against department Secretary Kristi Noem came after DHS reposted an edited TikTok video on X. In the video, a group of young Black men pose at what looks like a high school track field. The caption to read “ICE We’re on the way. Word in the streets cartels put a $50k bounty on y’all.”
This prompted DHA to respond saying “FAFO,” which is short for “f**k around, find out.”
“If you threaten or lay hands on our law enforcement officers we will hunt you down and you will find out, really quick. We’ll see you cowards soon,” the caption reads.
Almost immediately, Black folks online came to the Black teens’ defense, pointing out DHS’ post was edited. “It took me 30 seconds to find the original video that the Federal govt EDITED to put targets on the backs of black men,” @GreatestttEverr said on X.
“Tell me how the DHS deepfake version isn’t malicious race baiting? Trump Admin is putting a bounty on young Black men with their fake,” @finneyk said.
“He’s now getting death threats behind this and when if it was real why are you not paying all the white people who are threatening ice in videos?? I’ve seen plenty.. You decided to find a video with young black men,” @Cee_dot_Moody pointed out.
Another user, @astrolamont, said, “I hope every person in this video sues tf out of yall.”
The original video creator, who goes by @mr.floridajhit on TikTok, responded to all the chaos in a separate video. “Now I’m a threat to the government for something that I didn’t do,” he said on TikTok. “To clear it up, I did not post that video and I apologize for all the rumors that’s going around right now.” He further explained he made the original video as part of the Iran trend going around TikTok months ago. Now, it’s been taken out of context.
@BrandonLBradfor defended the young Black boy saying, “I think it’s unambiguously a terrible thing that the department of Homeland security is threatening random black kids off of a fake video.”
Other folks online took issue with DHS using slang to target Black people. “Homeland security saying fafo make me uncomfortable,” @jordannamariee said.
“This is irresponsible, dangerous, and undeniably racist anti-Black propaganda,” @JNelsonLDF wrote. “Posting silly threats as a distraction from your lawlessness fools no one. Keep your hands of[f] Black youth.”
“Yall still have this up? Knowing it’s not their original caption,” @Denita_fit wrote. “You are putting targets on these boys heads.”
“With all the tech and surveillance tools at their disposal, they couldn’t tell this video was edited,” @DannyDGlover asked. “Incompetent. Racist. Dangerous.”
@MightyKeef called out the department for “lying on black people to incite a race war.” He continued saying it’s “pathetic.”
“Remember when they said AI would have you being framed for things you really didn’t do? This is so dangerous,” @Snow_Blacck said.
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